Selby starts PokerStars Masters campaign in style
Mark Selby, the 2008 champion brushed aside Ding Junhui to book his quarter final place in the 2010 PokerStars.com Masters at Wembley
The Jester from Leicester was introduced to the 1000 strong Wembley crowd to the music of Kasabian's "Underdog", while Ding, not surprisingly had Eye of the Tiger as his welcome music.
The match itself evolved into Ding missing chances and Selby pouncing on the Chinese star's errors.
The pattern was set in frame one when Ding lost ideal position, and missed a long range blue gifting the frame to Selby, who had opened with a classy looking 36 before getting an horrendous kick.
Ding opened the second with 48 before missing a thin cut blue and had to sit and watch Selby, who won the event on his debut in 2008, make a frame winning 60.
And the pattern continued in the third when Ding missed a very hard cut back black with the reds spread, and Selby duly made 45 to stretch his lead.
And it was 4-0 to the Leicester man at the interval as breaks of 42 and 54 closed Ding out of the frame.
Ding need to win the fifth, but he didn't. He made 26 before a foul handed Selby the chance to compile 64.
The whitewash was averted in frame six. Ding made 22, but went in off and missed the blue, when attempting to split the reds. Selby responded with 53 but missed the match ball red and Ding dug out a 38 clearance to keep his slim hopes alive.
All hope ended in the next as Selby rifled in a long red and made 49. Ding battled back into the frame before Selby slammed the door in his face with a colours clearance.
Selby was happy with his win commenting "I knew it would be tough match but my record here is good, so I came into the tournament feeling confident."
Ding had been playing in a Chinese pro tour event, where he lost to Xiao Guodong and he thought that had hampered his preparation.
"I only had 4 days to get back to the UK and to practice. It wasn't enough."
The players and spectators were lucky that the arena was ready in time. The appalling weather in the UK delayed both fitters and equipment reaching the venue, leaving a rush to get everything rigged and ready.
